Doctoral student in Physics with focus on combustion physics (CESTAP) - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

Project

CESTAP (Competence cEntre in Sustainable Turbine fuels for Aviation and Power) is a newly established centre of competence including academic and industrial partners promoting production and use of sustainable fuels for stationary gas turbines and aviation jet engines. Academic and institute partners include Lund University, Luleå University and the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE). CESTAP is funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, with contributions from about 25 industrial partners and the mentioned academic partners.

Sustainable future energy use rely on a shift away from fossil fuels, which in some sectors can be done with new non-combustion technologies like batteries or fuel-cells. Still, in some sectors like aviation, maritime transport, and peak-load and back-up power generation, combustion will be difficult to replace. These sectors rely relatively heavy on continuous combustion engines like gas turbines and jet engines, and they together currently contribute with close to 10% of the global anthropogenic CO2 release.

At LTH, the technical faculty at Lund University, five PhD students are now recruited for projects related to production and use of sustainable fuels for aviation and gas turbines. The successfull candidates with work in a dynamic team with researchers from several institutions at LTH and participate in graduate student courses and activities together with PhD students from the partner universities and institutes.

Subject description

The research will be performed in close collaboration between research groups at the division of Combustion Physics at the Department of Physics and the division of Heat Transfer. The research groups have an extensive collaboration related to implementation of chemical kinetics mechanisms in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling of combustion.

CFD modeling with chemical reactions included are promising tools to aquire a detailed understanding of the combustion of heavy fuels used in jet engines and gas turbines. However, there are numerous challenges in the use of CFD, many of them related to the computational expense that necessitate use of simplified sub-models. Inclusion of chemical kinetics is necessary but computationally expensive, and needs to be further understood and developed. The goal of this sub-project within CESTAP is to achieve detailed understanding of how different factors related to chemical reactions and transport of chemical species in the flame, affect the combustion process and the modeling in CFD. The PhD candidate will spend equal amounts of time working with chemical kinetics and CFD, and it is highly recommended to have significant understanding of at least one of these topics and a strong interest in working with both topics.

Work duties

The PhD candidate will take part in development of reduced chemical kinetics mechanisms and perform extensive evaluation of chemical mechanisms of different complexity. Simulation work will include both 0D/1D modelling of ignition, flame propagation, extinction of flames and emissions, and advanced CFD modeling using RANS and LES models in OpenFoam. The work will be performed in a team of several senior researchers and PhD students with expertise in the two subject areas chemical kinetics and fluid dynamics. The work will be performed at Combustion Physics, Department of Physics.

The main duties of doctoral students are to devote themselves to their research studies which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (no more than 20%).

Admission requirements

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant:

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in physics if the applicant has:

• at least 30 credits of relevance to the subject, including at least 15 second cycle credits, and a second-cycle degree project of 15 credits of relevance to the field, or
• an MSc in engineering in engineering physics or an associated field, or a Master’s degree in physics or an associated field.

Additional requirements:

• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.

Assessment criteria

Selection for third-cycle studies is based on the student’s potential to profit from such studies. The assessment of potential is made primarily on the basis of academic results from the first and second cycle. Special attention is paid to the following:

1. Knowledge and skills relevant to the thesis project and the subject of study.
2. An assessment of ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
3. Written and oral communication skills
4. Other experience relevant to the third-cycle studies, e.g. professional experience.

Other assessment criteria:

• Collaborative skills and the ability to communicate with researchers in other research fields.
• Documented knowledge or experience in working with thermodynamics, and/or chemical kinetics models
• Documented knowledge or experience in working with computational fluid dynamics modeling.

Consideration will also be given to good collaborative skills, drive and independence, and how the applicant, through his or her experience and skills, is deemed to have the abilities necessary for successfully completing the third cycle programme.

Terms of employment

Only those admitted to third cycle studies may be appointed to a doctoral studentship. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. A doctoral studentship is a fixed-term employment of a maximum of 5 years (including 20% departmental duties). Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.

Instructions on how to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the position and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background. The application must also contain a CV, degree certificate or equivalent, and other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.).